'Once Upon A Time In Hollywood' Becomes Quentin Tarantino's Highest-Grossing Opening Weekend Ever

While 'The Lion King' remains in the top spot, Quentin Tarantino's latest film has become the director's highest-grossing opening weekend ever.

The film, which takes place in Hollywood in 1969 and stars Leonardo DiCaprio, Brad Pitt, and Margot Robbie, made an estimated $US 40.4 million over the weekend, nabbing the number two spot at the domestic box office.

Tarantino's latest project was projected to make $US30 million upon its release, thus exceeding expectations. His previous highest-grossing opening was 'Inglourious Basterds,' which opened to $US38 million in 2009.

Meanwhile, 'The Lion King' remained in the number one position for the second weekend in a row, with the live-action remake of the 1994 animated classic making an estimated $US 75.5 million in the US over the weekend.

Tarantino's star-studded flick, who also sees Dakota Fanning, Lena Dunham, Al Pacino, and Kurt Russell take on various roles, also serves as the late Luke Perry’s final film role prior to his fatal stroke earlier this year.

Tarantino previously called the film a “story that takes place in Los Angeles in 1969, at the height of hippy Hollywood".

He continued, "The two lead characters are Rick Dalton (DiCaprio), former star of a Western TV series, and his longtime stunt double Cliff Booth (Pitt). Both are struggling to make it in a Hollywood they don’t recognize anymore. But Rick has a very famous next-door neighbour … Sharon Tate.”

Once Upon a Time in Hollywood opens in Australian theatres on August 8, 2019.